Device for moving injured persons



March 19, 1968 D. T. CURTIS DEVICE FOR MOVING INJURED PERSONS Filed Feb. 9. 1967 mW 3 MD m A D ATIlJ s.

March 19, 1968 D. T. CURTIS 3,373,454

DEVICE FOR MOVING INJURED PERSONS Filed Feb. 8, 1987 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 f I E -4- I I Iii-7 .UAI/ID BY ATTVS.

United States Patent f 3,373,454 DEVICE FOR MOVING INJURED PERSONS David T. Curtis, 4121 Halifax Road, Toledo, Ohio 43606 Filed Feb. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 614,687 11 Claims. (Cl. 5-81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for moving injured persons having a generally rectangular open frame with the side rails of the frame each including a plurality of rail elements pivotally attached to onepanother in end-to-end relationship. Each of the pivot joints can be locked against pivotal movement so that the rigid frame, with a flexible sheet secured across its middle, may be used as a rigid litter or stretcher. The number and lengths of opposed pairs of rail elements comprising the side rails of the frame correspond in size and location to the movable sections of existing hospital examination or operating tables so that the device, when placed upon such a table with the pivot joints unlocked, will follow and conform to the surface of the table as it is elevated or depressed at various angles for examination or treatment of a patient thereon.

Background of the invention In the emergency treatment of injured or sick persons, it is necessary to transport the patient from the scene of the illness or accident to a hospital and between various stations within the hospital for examination, operation and post-operative treament. For example, a person injured in an automobile accident must be transported by ambulance to a hospital emergency receiving room, then to the hospital operating room, if necessary, and finally to a hospital room for recuperation. Itis a matter of utmost importance that these transfers be completed without disturbing the position of a seriously sick or injured person. Presently, ideal handling of the patient without disturbing his position cannot be achieved.

This difliculty in the treatment of seriously injured persons has been recognized but not solved in the prior art. United States Patent 3,264,659 discloses a double stretcher device for use in transferring an injured person between an ambulance and a hospital receiving room. In this device, a smaller stretcher carried by the ambu lance can be placed upon a larger stretcher which is then used in the hospital. While this device may eliminate disturbance of the patient in the transfer from an ambulance, it is not adapted for use on the existing movable or elevating hospital support tables such as examination, X-ray, or operating tables upon which the injured person would beplaced after leaving the ambulance.

United States Patent 3,167,789 discloses a patient transfer device for use within a hospital which generally comprises a plurality of movable sections which have aligned slots on their lower surface for receiving guide bars from specially designed support surfaces. With this device, an injured person may be transferred from one specially designed support having rigid guide bars to another specially designed support having elevating guide bars by sliding the movable sections from one support to the other support. This device facilitates intra-hospital patient transfer only if the hospital is equipped with the specially designed supports.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting and transporting injured persons fr0m the place of illness or accident into and through the 3,373,454 Patented Mar. 1.9, 196

various hospital treatment rooms to the final place of recuperation. The device can be used as a rigid litter or stretcher and can be placed upon existing hospital equipment, such as X-ray, examination and operating tables, Whose support surfaces are designed for elevation or depression of various parts of the body. The device is dimensioned to fit all standard hospital beds, permitting the patient to be in any position allowable by the bed such as elevation of back rest and/or elevation of the knee break. If it is necessary to place traction on an extremity, provision is made in the device to accept standard hospital orthopedic traction apparatus and overhead bars so that the traction need not be disturbed in moving the patient from one hospital table to another. In addition, arm supports can be adjusted and secured to the device to stabilize the extremity when transporting a patient who needs an intravenous medication at the same time.

The device of this invention may be economically manufactured and supplied to hospitals and independent ambulance contractors so that, in the transfer of a patient from an ambulance to the hospital, the device supporting the patient may be left with the hospital and a similar device supplied to the ambulance, obviating the necessity for having the ambulance wait for return of its device.

The device of this invention basically comprises an open rectangular frame having a length and width slightly larger than the upper support surface of a hospital examining or operating table. Each of the side rails. of the open frame are comprised of a plurality of rail elements pivotally attached to one another in end-to-end relation. The length of the rail elements corresponds generally to the length of each one of the number of separately movable sections on a typical hospital operating or emergency table. Stretched across portions of the open frame and secured around its periphery are flexible sheets of a liquidproof, preferably transparent material which provide patient support. The flexible membrane is removable for cleaning. Each of the pivoted joints between the rail elements making up a side rail may be locked against movement relative to each other so that the device will remain rigid for use as a stretcher ,or litter. When the pivoted joints are unlocked after the device has been placed upon an operating or examination table, elevation or depression of-the various table sections, as will be described in detail below, will be effective to elevate or depress cer-' tain portions of the patients body as the device pivots to conform to the configuration of the upper surface of the support table. The device may be folded, at its pivot joints, into a compact unit for-transport and storage when not in use. Finally, the device has folding legs at each corner of the frame which may be extended downwardly to elevate the frame when it is used as a stretcher.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, as shown in the drawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a View in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the device of this invention, showing it in open, rigid position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in folded position for storage or transport;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 33 of FIG. 1, shown on an enlarged scale illustrating the attachment of a flexible sheet to the upper surface of the frame members;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the joint between two of the rail elements comprising the side rails of the frame and showing in detail the pivot and locking means between two rail elements;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the joint between two rail elements shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of the device positioned upon a typical hospital examination or operating table, illustrating how the device, when in unlocked position, will conform to the contour of the upper surface of the support table; and

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of one of the collapsible support legs attached to a corner of the frame.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to FIG. 1, the device has a generally open, rectangular frame including a pair of end rails 10 and 11 rigidly secured to an opposed pair of side rails 12 and 13. The side rails 12 and 13 include opposed pairs of rail members 14, 15, 16, and 17. The lengths of the pairs of rail members 14, 16 and 17 correspond to the size of movable sections of a hospital support table, such as that illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus, as seen in FIG. 6, the rail members 14 are of a length so that they may be positioned upon and moved with a table section 18 which elevates or depresses the head section of the patient P positioned thereupon. Likewise, the length of the rail members 17 is such that they may be positioned upon and moved with a foot section 19 of the table and the rails 16 are adapted for positioning upon and movement with an intermediate support section 20. The shortest rail members extend between the members 14 and 16 in the general position of the lower back or kidney area of the patient P, as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the inner end of a rail member 14 is pivotally attached to the adjacent end of a rail member 15 by a short pivot link 21. One end of the pivot link 21 is pivotally secured to the rail member 15 by a pivot bolt or pin 22 while the other end is pivotally secured to the rail member 14 by a rigid cross piece 23 which extends entirely across the open frame and attaches the corresponding pairs of rail elements on the other side. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the cross piece 23 is secured at each end to a pivot link 21 and a portion of the rail member 14 by stop nuts so that the members 14 are held spaced apart from one another.

Each of the rail members 15, 16, and 17 are connected at their ends to one another in a like manner by pivot links 24 and 25, respectively. A cross piece 26 connects the links 24 to the rail members 16 and cross pieces 27 and 28 connect the rail members 16 and 17 to the links 25.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, each of the rail members 14-17 is fabricated from a downwardly extending, U-shaped channel 29 with a guide member 30 having an open slot facing inside the frame secured to its upper surface. Opposite the open slot in the guide member 30 is an upwardly extending finger 31 formed by the upper surface of a reinforcing bar 32 which is welded or otherwise secured to the adjacent inner leg of the channel 29. A slide guide 33 is secured longitudinally within the channel 29, which, with the interior faces of one leg and the web of the channel 29, forms an elongate passage parallel to the axis of the rail member. As seen in FIG. 2, the slide guide 33 does not extend the full length of the rail members 14-17 but is adjacent the ends of these members 14-17 which are pivoted to an adjacent member.

Positioned within the passage formed by the slide guides 33 on each end of the rail members 14, 16 and 17 is a locking bar 34 which has a cross section of the same shape and is only slightly smaller than the passage between the slide guide 33 and the internal walls of the channel 29. A lock pin 35 extends through an elongate slot 36 in the outer leg of the channel 29 from the looking bar 34. The lock pin 35, the slot 36 and the length of the locking bar 34 are such that when the lock pin 35 is moved to its extreme inner position within the slot 36, as indicated by reference numeral 35a in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking bar 34 is completely contained within the rail member 14. The outermost end of the locking bar 34, in this position, is designated by reference numeral 34a. When the lock pin 35 is moved to its outermost position within the slot 36, as designated by reference numeral 35b in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outermost end of the locking bar 34 extends Well into the passage within the rail member 15, as indicated by reference numeral 34b. When the locking bar 34 is in its retracted or unlocked position with its outermost end at position 34a, the pivoted rail members 14 and 15 are free to pivot relative to each other and relative to the pivot link 21. When the locking bar 34 is in its closed or unlocked position, as indicated by reference numeral 34b, it is securely held in the passage formed by the slide guide 33 in each of the members 14 and 15 so that pivoting or relative movement between these members is prevented.

As shown in FIG. 1, with each of the rail members 14 17 aligned in end-to-end relationship and locked against movement as described, the frame is a rigid structure. with the lock bars 34 between the various rail members 1417 in open or unlocked position, the members are free to move relative to one another. Thus, when the entire device is placed upon a support table, as illustrated in FIG. 6, with the rail members 14, 16 and 17 aligned with movable sections 18, 19 or 20, respectively, the device will conform to and follow the contour of the support table so that the head, foot or intermediate sections may be freely depressed or elevated.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking mechanism also may include a means to hold the locking bar 34 in either fully open or fully closed position to prevent accidental movement. A spherical detent 37 within a hole in the outer leg of the channel 29 is held by a resilient clip 38 against the adjacent side of the locking bar 34. A pair of recesses 39 and 40 in the outer side of the locking bar 34 are positioned for alignment with the detent 37 when the locking bar 34 is in fully open or closed position.

With the locking bars 34 in open or retracted position, the rail members 14-17 may be folded upon one another in the manner shown in FIG. 2 for storing or transporting the device. A pair of securing straps 41 and 42 may be provided for securing the rail members 14-17 in folded position.

The support surface for the patient is preferably a flexible, transparent sheet of a waterproof material, such as polyethylene. The sheet can extend across the entire open frame and may be secured to the frame in any manner. However, in the preferred embodiment, several smaller sheets are stretched across portions of the open frame with their edges removably secured to the adjacent frame members in the slot formed by the guide member 30 and upwardly extending finger 31, shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, a flexible sheet 43 has a pocket formed by a single hem which may be sewn or heat sealed along the edge of the sheet as indicated by reference numeral 44. A rigid pocket insert 45 is placed within the hem pocket, and with its outer edge extended under the edge of the upper end of the guide member 30, the insert 45 and sheet 43 are pressed downwardly, from the position indicated in phantom in FIG. 3 to the full line position. At this lower position, the sheet 43 and insert 45 are wedged between the guide member 30 and the finger 31 with the double seam of the hem resting upon the upper surf-ace of the finger 31. When an inward and downward force is exerted upon the load supporting portions of the flexible sheet 43, as indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 3, the edge of the sheet 43 and its-insert 45 will stay positioned within the pocket formed by the guide member 30 and finger 31. However, the sheet 43 and its insert 45 is readily removable from the frame, for cleaning or repair, by pushing upwardly along the edge of the finger 31, at the position and in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 3. Attachment of the flexible sheet 43 to the adjacent edges of the frame in this manner facilitates removal and re-attachment for cleaning or repair Without the use of tools or other securing members.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of sheets 43a and 43b are preferably used. Sheet 43a has three of its marginal edges secured to rail members 14 and with its fourth marginal edge freely extending between the side rails. Sheet 43b extends between the rail members 16 and 17 with its marginal edges secured in the manner described to these rail members and to the end rail 11.

To further facilitate removal for cleaning, the margins of sheets 43a .and 43b need not be secured to the end rails 10 and 11, respectively. The open space extending between the rail members can receive a kidney elevator of an operating table for elevation of a patients kidney or lower back area. Because the length of the rail member 15 is relatively short, such an open, unsupported area between the rail member 15 does not detract from the support given to the patient placed thereupon.

Referring to FIG. 7, a retractable leg 46 is pivotally secured to each corner of the rectangular frame. The legs 46 can be pivoted from a closed position adjacent and within the rail member to which it is secured to an open position at which it extends downwardly to support the frame off the floor. A folding leg lock 47 of conventional construction may be provided. Carrying handles 48 are secured on the outer sides of each of the end rails 10 and 11 as best seen in FIG. 1. Finally, attachment slots 49 are selectively positioned in the various rail members for receiving and holding supports for traction devices, splints or slings, generally designated by reference numeral 50.

Because existing operating and emergency treatment tables used in hospitals have three separately movable or elevatable sections, such as that shown in FIG. -6 and are generally the same length and width, the device of this invention can be placed upon such tables and will conform to and follow their movements, as previously described. When the table is adjusted to horizontal position, the rail members will be in substantial alignment and may be locked with little difficulty so that the device may be again used as a rigid litter to move the patient to the next treatment station. Preferably, the length and width of the rectangular frame of the device is slightly larger than the length and width of the table so that the rectangular frame including the side rails 12 and 13 and end rails 10 and 11 are slightly outside the edges of the hospital table and the patient is supported directly upon the table itself through the flexible sheets 43a and 43b.

Various modifications may be made in the above described preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the attached claims.

I claim:

1. A device for moving injured persons adapted for use as a rigid portable litter and for placement upon and movement with a support table having a surface of individually movable sections which may be selectively positioned at various angles to one another, said device comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails separated by and secured to a pair of opposed rigid end rails, the distance between said side rails being slightly larger than the width of such support table and the distance between said end rails being slightly larger than the length of such support table whereby said frame, when said device is placed upon said support table, generally surrounds the edges of said support table, said side rails including a plurality of opposed pairs individual rigid rail members aligned with each other in end-to-end relationship with opposed pairs of rail members having lengths corresponding to the length of the adjacent movable section of such support table, means pivotally joining the adjacent ends of said rigid rail members for movement about axes parallel to the end rails of said frame whereby said frame will assume the angular positions and conform to the surface of each support table when placed thereupon, means for selectively locking said rail members together in an 6 aligned relationship to constitute rigid side rails whereby said rectangular frame provides a rigid planar support, and at least one flexible sheet secured between opposed rail members to provide support for a such injured person placed thereupon.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said pivot means joining the adjacent ends of said rail members include a pivot link extending between the adjacent ends of said adjacent rail members with each end of said pivot link pivotally secured to the adjacent end of said member by a pivot pin having an axis parallel to the end rails of such device and at least one of said pivot pins for each link comprising a rigid cross piece extending between said side rails to position said attached rail elements in spaced apart relationship.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises an elongate bar slideably secured to the first one of a pair of adjacent rail members and movable -be tween an open position remote from the second one of said pair of adjacent rail member to a closed position at which said bar extends between said first and second ones of said pair of adjacent rail members to prevent relative movement thereof.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein each pair of adjacent rail members includes an elongate channel portion adapted to receive said elongate locking bar with said elongate bar positioned entirely within the channel of said first element when in open position and extending between and into both channels of said adjacent pair of rail members when in closed position.

'5. The device of claim 1 which includes a flexible, transparent sheet extending between the opposed rail members and the adjacent end rails on each end of said rectangular frame with the adjacent margins of each of said sheets continuously secured along the adjacent upper surface of said rail members and end rail to provide a flexible support for the head and feet areas of an injured person placed thereupon.

6. The device of claim '5 which further includes a flexible transparent sheet extending between opposed rail members intermediate said head and foot support areas andcontinuously secured along the adjacent upper surface of said opposed rail members to provide flexible support for body areas of an injured person intermediate said head and foot areas.

7. The device of claim 1 which includes four pairs of opposed rail elements with the first set of elements of each pair aligned with one another in end-to-end relationship to form a side rail of said rectangular frame and with the first, second and fourth elements within each side rail having a length corresponding to the length of the adjacent movable section of such support table and the third elements having a length substantially shorter than said first, second and fourth elements.

'8. The device of claim 1 which further includes a support leg adjacent each corner of said rectangular frame pivotally secured for movement from a closed position parallel to said frame to an open position extending normal to said frame.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said first, second and fourth elements are pivotally secured for folding in overlapping relationship with said first, second and fourth sections parallel and adjacent to one another.

10. The combination of a device for moving injured persons and a support table having individually movable sections which may be selectively positioned at variable angles to one another, said device including a generally rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails separated by and secured to an opposed pair of rigid end rails, said side rails including a plurality of individual rigid rail members aligned with each other in end-to-end relationship with opposed pairs of rail members having lengths corresponding to the length of the adjacent movable section of such support table, means pivotally joining the adjacent ends of said rail elements for movement along with said movement of said sections of said table whereby said. frame will assume the angular positions and conform to the surface of said support table and at least one flexible sheet secured between said opposed rail members with its lower surface resting upon the surface of said support table.

11. A device for moving injured persons adapted for use as a rigid portable litter and for placement upon and movement with a support table having a surface of individually movable sections which may be selectively positioned at variable angles to one another, said device comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails separated by and secured to a pair of opposed rigid end rails, said side rails including a plurality of opposed pairs of individual rigid rail members aligned with each other in endto-end relationship with opposed pairs of rail members having lengths corresponding to the length of the adjacent movable section of such support table, means pivotally joining the adjacent ends of said rigid rail memher for movement about axes parallel to the end rails of said frame whereby said frame will assume the angular positions and conform to the surface of such support table when placed thereupon, means for selectively locking said rail members together in an aligned relationship to constitute rigid side rails whereby said rectangular frame provides a rigid planar support, and at least one flexible sheet secured between opposed rail members to provide support for a such injured person placed thereupon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,913 6/1917 McIntosh 5----69 X 3,087,170 4/1963 Emery 5327 3,167,789 2/1965 Wicks 581 3,245,092 4/1966 Kreuz 568 3,287,895 11/1966 Hire 5-82 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

